Stories from the Hawaiian Islands

Episode 5: A Day of Infamy

Today, a year ago I stepped on the USS Arizona Memorial for the 2nd time in my life. Last time I was there in real life, was 2001. But I will watch the National Park Services’ live stream of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor every year. I am watching it this year as I have been doing all those years between my visits. I am there in spirit every year.

In the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Japanese Navy and Air Force bore down on the US naval base of Pearl Harbor. Their goal: to sink the US Navy’s aircraft carriers and annihilate the pacific fleet. It clearly was a well planned attack. Torpedo bombers and high-level bombers ragged havoc on the US fleet. All 8 battleships in port were damaged, four of them were sunk. Fortunately, the aircraft carriers were not in port.

The Japanese Air Force also attacked the US airfields at Wheeler, Hickham, Bellows and Ford Island. They destroyed most of the US airplanes on those bases. They also strafed and bombed the naval air station at Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Air Station Ewa and the Schofield Barracks Army Base.

You can still see bullet holes in the windows of the historic Hangar 79 on Ford Island from the 1941 attack.

And a Japanese torpedo used in the attack that was later recovered from the bay at Pearl Harbor, is on display in the museum of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

When the attack was over, a mere three hours later, a total of 2403 US military and civilians were killed Another 1178 were wounded. 1177 sailors died aboard the USS Arizona alone. More than 900 of them are entombed inside the hull, 40ft underwater, to this day.

The National Park Service maintains the USS Arizona Memorial—dedicated on May 30, 1962—since 1980 as a permanent reminder to that fateful day in 1941. They later added the USS Oklahoma Memorial and the USS Utah Memorial (more on them later).

A day after the attack, President Roosevelt addressed Congress and declared war on Japan with his famous Day of Infamy speech:
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan […] I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.”

^{Recording courtesy of the US National Archives and Wikimedia Commons.}

The US Navy started a salvage mission at Pearl Harbor after the attack was over. Most battleships that were hit on December 7, 1941 were repaired and returned to business. The USS Arizona was the only battleship that was not salvaged. However, the US Navy removed the ship’s super structure. So, today, most of the USS Arizona is under water. Only a few parts stick out above the water line. In fact, the park rangers from the National Park Services told me that the ship still is slowly sinking into the muddy bay that is Pearl Harbor.

The US Navy had refueled the USS Arizona the day before the attack. When that Japanese bomb hit the forward magazine on the USS Arizona, the ship had about 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil on board. Many of its fuel tanks remained relatively in tact as the USS Arizona sank to the bottom of the harbor. Over the years, USS Arizona’s fuel tanks began to leak. The oil in its tanks began to rise to the surface in little droplets. These droplets were soon dubbed the Tears of the Arizona.

Legend has it that the ship releases the little drops of oil because it is morning the lost of the 1177 sailors when she sank. The USS Arizona is in fact weeping black tears. It is said, she would continue to shed her tears until the last remaining survivor of the USS Arizona would pass away. NPS park rangers told me that noticeable less oil leaked from the USS Arizona since LCDR Lou Conter—the last remaining USS Arizona survivor—passed away in April 2024. So, maybe the legend is true after all.

But you can still see oil seeping from the USS Arizona’s wreckage and raise to the surface today. The little back drops burst into beautiful rainbow colored spots as they reach the surface. I’m sure that the tears will continue to emerge from the USS Arizona for years to come.

In the present day, the USS Arizona Memorial sits solemnly over the remains of the the battleship BB-39 USS Arizona. It is flanked by BB-63 Missouri. In the distance, you see the beautifully restored control tower on Ford Island.

Today, as I celebrate another year around the sun, I feel blessed. December 7th is no longer just a day of infamy. It is a day to remember, honor and understand. It is also a day to celebrate.

I am surrounded by many of the people that are dear to me. We’re sharing pizza and chicken wings. A tradition started in 2001 after my 1st trip to Hawai‘i. To anyone who’s dear to me and who’s reading this (you know who you are): mahalo for your friendship!